Which language should I learn to become a developer? – Affaq


Updated: 14 Nov 2024

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The primary options for general-purpose software development are C# and Java, or maybe C++, but it’s a bit more niche. For web stuff, you should choose C#, Java, or maybe Python for the back end, and JavaScript/Typescript for the front end. HTML and CSS are a given too but you can learn those in a matter of days.

What are the main programming languages a software engineer uses? While no programming language meets every software engineer’s needs, the most popular languages are JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL, Python, and Java.

Best Programming Languages to Learn For Your Career Goals

Front-end web development: JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS. Back-end web development: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, Ruby, Scala. Mobile development: Swift, Java, C# Game development: C#

If you’re new to the field of software development, the toughest part of learning programming is deciding where to begin. There are hundreds of programming languages in widespread use, each with its own complexities and idiosyncrasies.

The good news is that as you begin your journey as a software developer, you’ll start to discover the best coding language to learn based on your interests and career goals.

In this article, we’ll go over the best and most in-demand programming languages as well as how to learn them to kickstart a coding career.

What is a Programming Language?

A programming language is a set of instructions, written in a specific syntax, which tell a computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them. By mastering a programming language, you can create software applications, websites, and other digital tools that shape our world.

 and other digital tools that shape our world.

Major Types of Programming Languages

In your search for the best programming languages to learn, know that there are multiple types of programming languages—each with its own strengths and limitations.

Here are the major types of programming languages:

  1. Procedural Programming Languages: These languages focus on breaking down problems into step-by-step procedures. C, Cobol, BASIC, and Pascal are popular examples.
  2. Functional Programming Languages: These languages emphasize manipulating data structures without modifying existing data to promote a more predictable outcome. Haskell and Scala are some well-known functional languages.
  3. Object-Oriented Programming Languages: In these languages, programs are organized around objects that contain data (properties) and actions (methods). This object-based approach is widely used, with Python, Java, and C++ being prominent examples.
  4. Scripting and Dynamic Languages: These lightweight languages are often used for automating tasks or adding interactivity to web pages. JavaScript and Ruby are commonly used scripting languages.
  5. Logic Programming Languages: These languages focus on problem solving through logic and reasoning. They provide a unique way to approach problems and are often used in artificial intelligence applications. Prolog is a notable example of a logic programming language.

Best Programming Languages to Learn in 2024

With over 700 programming languages to choose from, you’re likely wondering which programming language is the best to learn. Your choice will ultimately depend on your skill level, career goals, and the languages employers use in their organizations. To help you get started, here are the 15 best programming languages to learn in 2024.

JavaScript

With increasing demand for dynamic web applications, becoming a professional software developer is nearly impossible without learning JavaScript. According to Stack Overflow’s 2024 Developer’s Survey, JavaScript is the most popular programming language among developers for the eleventh year in a row with 62% of survey respondents reporting that they had used it in the past year.

Most of the web’s most popular sites, from Facebook and Twitter to Gmail and YouTube, rely on JavaScript to create interactive web pages and dynamically display content to users. This wide range of applications makes JavaScript one of the best programming languages to learn.

Key Features:

  • Versatility: JavaScript can be used for both front-end and back-end development.
  • Interactivity: It adds dynamic elements to web pages, making them more engaging, and responsive.
  • A large community: The JavaScript community is large—and growing! Those looking to learn it can find extensive online resources, tutorials, frameworks and other resources that make learning and troubleshooting easier.

Prerequisites: A basic understanding of HTML and CSS is recommended for effective web development with JavaScript.

Skills Needed: Prospective JavaScript coders should possess abilities and interest in problem-solving, logical thinking, and procedural reasoning.

Platforms: Web browsers, server-side environments with Node.js.

Use Cases:

  • Creating interactive web elements
  • Building dynamic web applications
  • Developing single-page applications (SPAs)
  • Adding animations and user interfaces

Average Salary: JavaScript developers earn around $113,374 annually (Indeed, June 2024).

At Fullstack Academy, we chose to focus our curriculum on Javascript back in 2013. Today, as a leader in the tech education space, Fullstack Academy continues to primarily teach full stack JavaScript across all our coding bootcamps for 2024—including our Software Engineering Immersive and Grace Hopper Program for women and nonbinary coders.

Python

Python is perhaps the most user-friendly programming language on this list. It’s often said that Python’s syntax can be clear and intuitive—especially to English speakers, as it is formatted similarly to English grammar rules. This makes it a popular choice for beginners seeking the best programming languages to learn for themselves.

Key Features:

  • Readability: Python’s clean and concise syntax resembles natural language, making it easier to learn and maintain.
  • Versatility: It’s widely used for web development, data science, scripting, machine learning, and more.
  • Extensive libraries: Thanks to a vast collection of pre-written code (libraries), it’s easy to simplify complex tasks and streamline development with Python.
Pros of PythonCons of Python
Beginner-friendly due to its readabilityMay run slower than compiled languages for performance-critical applications
Use cases in data analysis, machine learningRelies on proper indentation, which can lead to errors if not followed strictly
Features a rich ecosystem of librariesPrimarily used for back-end development or data science, with limited use in native mobile app creation

Prerequisites: A basic understanding of computer science concepts is helpful, but not integral, to programming in Python.

Skills Needed: Python programmers should have a solution-focused mindset as well as an interest in data structures and data analysis.

Platform: All major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Use Cases:

  • Web development (back-end)
  • Data science and machine learning
  • Scripting and automation
  • Scientific computing
  • Game development (with frameworks)

Average Salary: Python developers earn around $118,720 per year (Glassdoor, June 2024)

SQL

Along with Python, SQL programming is essential to efficiently using data in web applications, making it one of the best programming languages to learn. Unlike other coding languages on our list, though, SQL specifically enables the storage, extraction, and manipulation of data within an existing relational database.

Key Features:

  • Standardized use: SQL is widely used and supported by most database management systems.
  • Declarative capability: Its function hinges on what data to retrieve or manipulate, not the specific steps to achieve it.
  • Relational functionality: SQL enables querying and managing data across interconnected tables within a database.

TypeScript

Over the last several years, TypeScript has grown in popularity, with close to 40% of developers using the programming language, according to Stack Overflow’s 2024 Developer’s Survey. Once you learn JavaScript, TypeScript is simple to learn because it’s an open-source programming language that builds on JavaScript and works on all the same environments. That makes it one of the best programming languages to learn for beginners. According to the TypeScript website, several well-known companies are utilizing the programming language, including Google, Airbnb, and Slack.

Key Features:

  • JavaScript synchronicity: Code written in TypeScript compiles to regular JavaScript, ensuring compatibility with existing web technologies.
  • Static typing features: Features like code completion and refactoring make development smoother.

Pros of TypeScript

  • Leverages the vast resources and libraries available for JavaScript
  • Elevates JavaScript by adding features for better organization and error prevention
  • Gaining traction in the job market as large-scale web applications become more complex

Prerequisites: Learning TypeScript requires prior JavaScript proficiency.

Skills Needed: As with JavaScript, TypeScript requires an understanding of object-oriented programming.

Platform: All major operating systems (compiles to JavaScript)

Use Cases:

  • Large-scale web applications
  • Building enterprise-grade web applications
  • Maintaining complex codebases written in JavaScript
  • Front-end development with frameworks like Angular and React

Cons of TypeScript
  • Requires additional learning compared to plain JavaScript
  • Its compilation can add a slight overhead to the development workflow
  • Type annotations can impact readability by adding extra code
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Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a fundamental paradigm in software development that organizes software design around objects. These objects are instances of classes, which can represent real-world entities and provide a modular approach to building programs.


Please Write Your Comments
Comments (9)
M
Micheal 9 Nov 2024 AT 8:49 pm

Beautiful CSS comment snippet with reply is created by Ravi Raushan using HTML, CSS, Javascript , Fonts . This Bootstrap snippet is free and open source hence you can use it in your project.

M
M Rizwan 9 Nov 2024 AT 8:48 pm

In the above example, we added simple forms inside the comment bodies, and gave them the class .d-none by default, which sets display: none; and hides them from view. Thanks to the simple event listener,

Regards
Rizwan

A
Ali 9 Nov 2024 AT 8:51 pm

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I don't understand.

J
John Mike 9 Nov 2024 AT 8:37 pm

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F
Faris 14 Oct 2024 AT 12:36 pm

"When the fuse is lit, time itself becomes the enemy."
– Emphasizing the urgency and fear as the clock ticks down.

"In the ticking of a time bomb, we hear the heartbeat of chaos."
– Suggesting that chaos and destruction are just a moment away.

These lines capture both the literal and metaphorical aspects of time bombs, symbolizing not just physical danger, but also the pressure of time and unresolved tensions.

G
Guest User 9 Nov 2024 AT 5:16 pm

These lines capture both the literal and metaphorical aspects of time bombs, symbolizing not just physical danger, but also the pressure of time and unresolved tensions.

D
D Jones 9 Nov 2024 AT 5:15 pm

Good Post!
i like it.

H
Hassan Nasir 9 Nov 2024 AT 5:05 pm

Nice Post!
Keep it up

Regards!
Hassan Nasir

G
Ghulam Abbas 7 Nov 2024 AT 8:07 pm

I am here to checking the reply design.
Lets see what I find after publishing its reply comment.

I am ready to publish. https://dgaps.com/

Thanks

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